Bats in the belfry drive churches to despair

Churches are being driven to despair by bats which are taking over their buildings.

The number of churches who enjoy having bats outweighs those who want them removed.

By Jonathan Wynne-Jones, Religious Affairs Correspondent

9:11AM GMT 17 Jan 2009

Some congregations are considering abandoning their church and worshipping elsewhere because they can no longer stand the smell and mess left behind by the mammals.

More than 200 parishes have joined a campaign to demand that the government change strict conservation laws so that bats can be removed more easily.

They say the cost of cleaning the buildings and of protecting paintings and other precious objects from the bats faeces is just too expensive for many congregations to bear.

But conservation bodies, who are fighting to retain the current rules, warn that most species have declined in recent decades and a relaxation in legislation would put Britain's bat population at risk.

The medieval church of St Andrew in the village of Holme Hale, Norfolk, is one of the churches which is struggling to stay open.

"They contribute a great deal to our natural heritage and we need to ensure that they have a future so that future generations can enjoy them."

Between 1978 and 1986, the number of more common species, such as pipistrelles, fell by 62 per cent and there was a decline of 70 per cent of the rarer species such as greater horseshoe bat from 1963 to 1986.

Ms Coyte said that the number of churches who enjoy having bats outweighs those who want them removed.

"Churches are a very important part of bat conservation in the UK. We have many congregations who are helping to protect them and make them a part of their life."

She cited the example of one church that organises bat walks to watch them at night.

Matt Heyden of Natural England said: "We want people to have a positive relationship with bats.

"We want them to live with them if possible, but realise some people can't do that and try to make it easier for them to get a licence."

He added: "It is not inappropriate to recognise that there is a distinction between places where people live and other buildings.

"We have to draw the line somewhere as otherwise there's a danger that we'll see another decline in the number of bats."

A Church of England spokesman said: "Bats have been a feature of 'church life' for many years.

"We are currently working with national agencies like Natural England, English Heritage and the Bat Conservation Trust to see to how balance the needs of people, church buildings and bats.

"We recognise that in some cases, finding this balance presents real challenges."